Next Level: Breaking down WMU vs. U-D

Western Michigan beat the University of Detroit, 71-58, today, Tuesday, in Kalamazoo, for the Broncos' first victory this season. Here's how some of the Michigan high school alumni looked in the game.

Thomas Kennedy 6-7 Jr U-D (Detroit Southeastern)
Made some hustle plays and showed his ability in some rare open court chances. Jacked up two many three-pointers. His pump fake and mid-range shot to start the second half were more like it, and he also made a smart and patient post feed. When he caught the ball closer to the rim off of cuts, Kennedy faded away instead of attacking. He needs to read the scouting report (or even just the media guide) -- TK was caught stationary as WMU high-flyer Shawntes Gary soared past him for put-back. Speaking of physical contact, Kennedy needs to hold through on his screens.

David Kool 6-2 Jr WMU (Grand Rapids South Christian)
Head and shoulders above everyone else on the court in terms of skills and basketball feel. Kool just plays at his own pace, and produced even though the Titans played some good team defense, really extending Western and limiting Kool's touches, in the first half. When Western Michigan had a long drought in the first half, Kool forced the action to get in the lane, and Detroit didn't have a similarly-sized player that could stop him. The challenge for Kool this season will be to allow some superstar selfishness to transcend the Calvinist modesty, and be a leader of a young group in word and deed.

LaMarcus Lowe 6-11 Fr WMU (Flint Northwestern)
Really made his impact felt in the first half blocking shots. Most impressive of the rejections was when Lowe was fronting 7-3 Jason Bennett, then slide over to block Woody Payne's attempt. Lowe's post defense on Bennett was OK. He had a tougher time on the 6-8 Chris Hayes, which isn't encouraging as there are a bunch of 6-8 inside players at the mid-major level, and most of them play with more leverage than Hayes. Lack of girth limited his effectiveness as a rebounder, as well. Offensively, LL made a nice catch-and-finish of a dump from David Kool. But when Lowe has to create a shot, he's not there yet. Lowe may not have a lot of game experience, but I think he has a pretty high innate basketball IQ, and will do a lot of good things in Kazoo.

Martelle McLemore 6-5 Jr WMU (Detroit Consortium)
He played in a limbo offensively. When Detroit was thriving with its zone, McLemore wasn't decisive or assertive as the crucial ball recipient at the free throw line. At other times, it looked like his natural inclination was to go baseline, which is falling out of vogue because it so limits the driver's options.

Woody Payne 5-10 Jr U-D (Ypsilanti)
Was into the challenge of checking David Kool, and you have to like the competitiveness, but Kool was too big and strong , and all Payne could to was grab him. The former Mr. Basketball sent Woody to the bench with four fouls with over 7 minutes to play in the game. On the offensive end, Payne is more of an ego guy than a playmaker. He had one payback on Kool. But for the most part the results were what you expect at the college level when a tiny guard without other wordly explosion (which Payne had as a high school track and field star, but not necessarily with a basketball) attacks the lane ad nauseum and the defense knows he's not going to pass - the foot-taller LaMarcus Lowe eating up the shots, or the ball knocking lamely off the back of the rim when he did get his left-handed shot off. Or the front of it. Payne did make one smart pass to Eulis Stephens on the break in the second half, and U-D will need more of that kind of unselfishness as the season continues.

Michael Redell 6-0 Sr WMU (Rockford)
Redell coughed it up four times in the first half, but redeemed himself in the second half as he did something really rare in this game - a drive and dish like a point guard should, setting up teammate Martell McLemore. He also had a good pitch-ahead for a bucket, and an icing three-pointer with 90 seconds to play. Although Kool will get most of the touches, Redell is also a good guy to have out there at the end of the game because he's strong with the ball and can knock down foul shots.

Flenard Whitfield 6-7 Fr WMU (Detroit King)
The freshman got a lot of tick in the first half, and the former football all-stater looks to have a college-ready body. With said body, you'd like to see Whitfield develop a back-to-the-basket game. He didn't have it in high school, but he could thrive in the MAC as a post scorer.